ive been using norton since 1996 and havent had any problems with it.
Back then Norton was good. Since about 2007 or so it's gone downhill using way too many resources (and taking over too much control) and providing way too little protection in return.
But still.. these are just cookies.. not even a 'real' threat (note that even Norton says they are 'low' risk). You're going to collect them no matter what unless you turn them off altogether, but then you'd have to put in your name and password everytime you needed to login to a website.
As far as getting 169 cookies.. I doubt SERIOUSLY that you picked these all up from the Aces High website, especially knowing Skuzzy as well as I do. I see you have a couple other windows open (125thspartanforums.com and something about a meade t-adapter). "Free Hosted" websites and "shopping" sites are very well known for collecting information (some through tracking cookies). Free sites do it to generate revenue, and shopping websites do it to watch what you're looking at so they can recommend custom 'tailored' products for you. I also wouldn't be surprised if your Norton toolbar itself was loading these tracking cookies as well (as a matter of fact I can almost guarantee it is).
If you're really all that worried about it, turn off cookies through firefox (and make exemptions for your common websites such as this one) and install the
FREE NOSCRIPT ADDON for firefox.